How one man's experience impacted a community

The same heartbreaking stories come to our attention over and over. "My [child, spouse, parent] has a problem with [anger, addiction, depression, sexual impurity], and I don't know what to do. I have [given him money, believed her lies, paid the utility bills, taken in the children] but things are only getting worse. Now I [worry all the time, have spent all my money, cannot concentrate enough to work, neglect my family] and nothing is better. I am at the end of my rope. What can I do?"

Ted Pearson, director of the Rescue Mission in Columbus, Nebraska, learned how to help people in these situations using the Living Free Groups. Here is how this one man responded and made an impact on his community.

An Interview with Sunserea Dalton

In an interview with Sunserea Dalton, coordinator of the Living Free ministry at Faith Assembly in Orlando, Florida, she shared the excitement and growth of this vital ministry.

What are you most excited about through using Living Free?

I am convinced that my Turning Point facilitator was put into my life by God to show me the way of Jesus and the importance of His Word. I was inspired deeply. Turning Point is the most positive thing I have ever completed in my life.

I can't even begin to tell you how much better my life has become since I have become aware of the upward path to developing Christian character found in those precious verses contained in 2 Peter 1:3-11. Just being able to see those eight Christian traits in black and white helped me to apply them in my everyday life. The Word of God being alive in me-mind, body and soul-is a direct result of Turning Point.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have taken Turning Point and so blessed to have learned how to apply what I've learned in my life. I guess that I can sum up where I am in life with a scripture. It is Proverbs 21:21. It says, "Anyone who wants to be godly and loving finds life, success and honor."(NIRV) Thank you, Father God, for the miracles that you have worked in my life! I have my family back in my life as a direct result of the life changes I've made with the encouragement I received from Turning Point. I have dealt with my life-controlling problem and am clean and sober. I have quit smoking cigarettes. I have stopped cursing. I have changed who I am. I may not be who I want to be. I may not be who I could be. But I thank Father God every day for not being who I used to be. I am truly a work in progress. So to answer the question of where am I in life... I'm in a much better place. In closing, I am a firm believer and a living example of Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Tom and Lois Lofton with Child in the Midst and directors of Kids Living Free have recently returned from a three week trip to Africa where they shared the principles of Living Free and trained workers to begin the Kids Living Free. Below is a segment of their newsletter:

We just returned from a three week mission in South Africa, Swaziland, and Mauritius. Our ministry in each of these countries included preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, training the principles of Living Free, empowering children's workers with the Kids Living Free program, and witnessing the music ministry of our daughter, Mandy as she encouraged hundreds of children to live according to the promises in God's Word.

Our hearts were touched as several children accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior after one school event in Cape Town, South Africa. We rejoiced to see the children once abandoned on the streets of Swaziland now becoming spiritually, physically and emotionally whole. And it was a great blessing to train many workers in Mauritius as they prepare to launch the ministry of Teen Challenge in their country.

For more information about this ministry, go to www.childinthemidst.org or www.kidslivingfree.org.

The Pinellas County Pregnancy Center has been using the Living Free Godly Parenting classes for three years. The success of the pilot program at the Countryside location opened the door for the classes to be taught at all three Centers.

The facilitators were trained using the Living Free Video Training and after attending the training the couples were ready to facilitate the Godly Parenting classes. Many strong friendships have been created between the teachers and the clients during their time together. Facilitators were encouraged to offer the remainder of the teaching in their local churches and invite the ladies to attend. This has been an excellent opportunity for the clients to receive the rest of this valuable teaching along with the good exposure to a church atmosphere. The hope of those at the Pregnancy Center is that they will keep attending the church and find the continued “family” support they need.